Pickle Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • One gym mat is set up in front of each wall – these are safe bases
  • 4 people are designated as “its” – they may throw (shoulders or below) or tag players.
  • Yarn balls are generally used in this game.

Rules:

  • The four “its” start the game in the center circle of the gym
  • The rest of the players stand on one of the mats to start the game
  • Players run from one mat to another and try not to get tagged
  • Players may rest on a mat for three seconds and then they must go to a new mat.
  • If they are tagged, they go to the pickle jar (center circle).
  • There are “free walkbacks” when a player is freed from the pickle jar. Players get out of the pickle jar when a player not in the pickle jar – hooks elbows with them and gets them to a mat without getting tagged. As long as the students are connected they can’t be tagged.
  • Play continues for 1:30 -2:00 minutes, or sometimes the length of a song. then new “its” are picked.
  • For all tag games, we play a game song for the duration of one turn, then transition music (i.e. Jeopardy Theme) is used to remind students to pick “new its” for a game.
  • When this song is played the students return  the yarn balls to the container and everyone sits at their gym homes”. The teacher may chose a team of students or just have the students raise their hands in the air if they want to be a new tagger.
  • The transition music is set for about forty seconds.
  • The “new its” go to the center circle to begin a new game.
  • The “old its” go to one of the mats on the floor to begin the next game.
  • After choosing the new taggers, everyone else will begin the game on one of the four mats.
  • One issue that arises when using mats as bases is that some students jump, flop, or just decide to sit on the mats. To eliminate this problem, students that exhibit unsafe behaviors shall be considered tagged and go to the center circle in the gym. This keeps students playing the game and solves the safety issue.

Note: You can shorten up games and allow more turns by ending one of the “game songs” early and jumping to the transition music.

Jack Frost Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  •  K-2: Four stuffed animal taggers
  •  Four hula hoops for the Heat Meisters (Optional for primary grades)

Guidelines:

  • Students that are chosen as taggers (Jack Frost) may tag or throw the stuffed animal or ball.
  • When a student is tagged they are immediately frozen and they stand perfectly straight up and down
  • Students have one way to avoid being tagged. They can do three very slow jumping jacks to simulate a standing snow angel. After 3 seconds they must continue moving and trying not to be tagged by jack frost.
  • The three “heat meisters” carry a hula hoop which is the defroster for this game.
  • They must put the hoop over and down over the frozen player to defrost them.
  • The game continues for about 2 minutes, then new taggers and “heat meisters” are chosen.

 

 

Bear Sighting Freeze Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • Everybody It Version: No equipment needed

Guidelines:

  • Students are tagged with a two finger (peace sign) tag on someone’s knees.
  • If someone is tagged in this game; make themselves as big as they can by spreading legs and stretching out hands.These are  the protocols for a bear sighting in the woods near Spencer Butte. Remain standing in this frozen position until saved by a classmate.
  • To be saved from a frozen state, classmates will give them a high five to get back in the game.
  • Students have one way to avoid being tagged.  They are safe in in this game when they are pivoting on one foot. Students may do this for three turns, then they can move again.
  • Game changer: No bases. For 30 seconds there is no pivoting.
  • The game continues for about about five minutes or so.
  • Variation: Choose taggers who can use yarn balls as taggers.

 

 

Scooter Freeze Tag

Equipment and Setup:

  • Scooters and pool noodles or yarn balls for tagging.

Guidelines:

  • Choose “its” for the game, they each get a pool noodle  and go the center circle in the gym to start the game.
  • The class is split in half.  Each half  is lined up behind the black lines at each end of the gym.
  • When the music starts, students move in their preferred fashion, or the teacher can designate backwards, forwards, both knees on, etc.
  • The music starts and everyone tries to get to the opposite end without getting tagged. If they do get tagged, they flip the scooters over and kneel down with one knee up and one knee down. They are defrosted when someone gives them a high five.
  • After one to two minutes pick new “its”

 

 

Octopus Run

Octopus Run: 

Setup and Equipment;

  • Select three people to be the octopuses (octopi). They stand on the center line to be the taggers. They will will try to tag people using the two-finger peace tag on the upper back of their classmates.
  • The rest of the class are crabs (octopus prey) and stands on one of the lines at one end of the gym, facing  the octopi.

Guidelines:

  • The game starts when the teacher starts the music.
  • The octopi are allowed to run anywhere in the gym and use their tentacles (hands) to tag others.
  • When someone is tagged by an octopus, they become seaweed and their feet attach to the ocean floor. Their arms are outstretched and they wave in the air as they attempt to tag people when they run by them.
  • After most of the crabs have made it to the other side the music is stopped. The students that are running turn around and face the wall they came from.
  • The teacher restarts the music and the crabs attempt to run back to their original starting line.
  • Play continues in this manner until most of the players have had a turn.
  • Anytime an octopus gets tired they may switch with one of the seaweed.
  • The game is over when most of the crabs have been turned into seaweed.

Pac-Person Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • Yarn balls (taggers)
  • Connecting lines on the gym floor
  • Chose 4-6 people to be the ghosts (taggers)
  • Everyone else spreads themselves out with both feet on a line on the gym floor.

Guidelines:

  • Four to six students are the ghosts and they can move anywhere in the gym and try to tag the Pac-people. If you have the class divided into six groups, then you can have students from one group at a time be the taggers.
  • The pac-people can only move while they are on the lines on the floor. For gym floors that do not have a lot of lines, you may need to allow some jumping from one line to another.
  • When one of the pac-people are tagged by a ghost, they stop and balance on one foot and raise their hand in the air.
  • To be freed from this frozen position, one of their fellow pac-people will give them a high five. They can now return to the game.
  • After one or two minutes, stop the game and choose new “ghosts”

 

Climbing Wall Tag

This is an “everybody it” tag game.

Equipment and Setup:

  • Many elementary schools have climbing walls that are not higher than eight feet. These “traversing walls” can be used in this game.
  • Open part or all of the climbing wall, so students have the room to climb up and down.
  • Emphasize climbing up and down the wall.

Guidelines:

  • Everyone is “it” to start the game.
  • Students may tag each other by using the a two-finger (peace) tag on the back of their classmates.
  • Three Second Standing Base: Players are immune from being tagged if they are standing and balancing on one foot. They can only do this for three seconds. Then, they have to move around the gym before they stand and balance on one foot again.
  • When a student is tagged they go to the wall and climb up and tap their hand above the highest handhold.
  • Then, climb back down and reenter the game.

 

Hospital Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • The boundaries are the black lines in front of each wall in the gym.
  • All players must stay inside of the black lines.
  • If a player goes outside of the boundaries they must perform one the fitness exercises (listed below).

Guidelines:

  • Everyone is “it”and may tag others with a gentle two finger touch.
  • You may not tag the students next to you at the beginning of the game.
  • If you are tagged you may continue running but must put a hand over the area of your body that was tagged.
  • If you are tagged a second time you may continue running, but now your other hand should cover the second tagged spot.
  • On the third tag, you must go outside of the black line and perform a “ten count” strength building or flexibility activity.

Examples of Exercises after 3rd Tag:

  • For Strength Building: ten sit -ups, ten count v-sit, or ten push – ups (modified are acceptable)
  • For Flexibility: Hamstring, shoulder, or calf stretch performed for twenty seconds.
  • Skill Building: Dribble ten times with one hand and ten times with the other.
  • Other Options:
  • Climb the wall and touch your hand above the highest handhold.
  • Run up the stairs in the gym, touch the door, and run down the stairs.

Valentine Hug Tag

Setup and Equipment:

  • Four soft red balls for the “cupid – its”
  • Practice the hug: Lean forward with two soft taps
  • Practice the Macho Hug: Do a thumb handshake with two hand taps on the other person’s back
  • Practice becoming a “heart” by lifting arms (elbows up) above their heads and pointing their hands downwards to the top of their head.
  • When a person is tagged they stand frozen in this position.

Guidelines:

  • The “cupid – its” attempt to tag players by throwing or tagging them with the red ball
  • If a player is tagged, they stand frozen in the “heart” position
  • A heart is unfrozen and the player returns to the game when another player gives them a hug – or a “macho hug”
  • Continue the game by having the “old its” pick “new its”until turns are completed by each student.

 

Reindeer Tag

Setup and Equipment

  • Equipment: Yarn balls or stuffed animals for tagging
  • Four people are chosen to be “its”

Guidelines

  • When a student gets tagged they kneel with one knee down and one knee up. They put their thumbs on their head and spread their fingers out like antlers.
  • In order to be defrosted from the “reindeer position” the other players approach the frozen player from the front and wiggle their antlers/fingers together to free them.
  • After a one to two minute winter holiday song, a transition song is played. The theme from the Nutcracker works well right before the winter break.